TRon

I don't know if we'll be buying the biggest stars immediately, for a start most of them will still prefer established CL clubs. But I do think it will allow us to start competing for the best of the best youngsters who would see an easier path to the first team here than Man City or Liverpool. Eventually, I would imagine the aim is still to be number 1, just we'll do it over a period of a few years.

I probably worded that wrong tbf, they aren't cartel, but they did buy their way into the elite whether the cartel like it or not, same as Chelsea. But I think they are already suffering from a lack of pace in midfield with Rodri gone, I just don't think they'd want Bruno right now.

Don't get me wrong, if PIF want to go ahead with a brand new stadium regardless of our spending restrictions, I'll be delighted. It's not my money. Even so, our best bet is that PSR is brought crashing down. If that happens then I think the sky is the limit, because I am convinced this is a vanity project first and foremost, and if they are allowed to build a winning side, they will throw everything at it.

I agree with you, I would love for us to have a 70k+ stadium, if only so I could get back in on a regular basis. But with the current FFP/PSR rules I am not convinced we would be able to compete on a like for like basis with the cartel clubs. They have already built a global fanbase through success, and that comes with buying the best players. How much incentive is there for any owners to spend over a billion on a new stadium if they look on it as an investment? How long would it take to pay back into profits if we are not in the CL? It would have to be a pretty long term thing I would have thought, would any owner stick around for that unless we were allowed to go for gold?

The team does come first. If PSR continues to restrict our spending on the squad, then the current ground is more than enough if we are going to be hovering around top 6-10 rather than top 4.

I already said I have no problem with Longstaff as a squad player. But then I had no problem with Anderson and Minteh as squad players either and we had to sell those to comply with PSR, and they had a higher ceiling IMO. Those teams you are quoting like Liverpool and Chelsea don't have to sell their squad players so this is comparing apples to oranges. Also just to repeat, this isn't saying Longstaff isn't good enough for where we are, but I don't think he'll be good enough to compete at a CL level consistently. Otherwise those sides who are in that bracket would be trying to buy him. If PSR is rescinded though there would be no need to even have this conversation. Longstaff would be a squad player happy to play when needed and sit out otherwise. That would be ideal.

Willock isn't really good enough either and I'm a fan. Tonali I think is an excellent player, the question is if he fits into our team, or the PL as a whole. I think if he leaves he finds a CL club, probably back in Italy. These are very broad generalisations but it's just about where we want to be at the end of the day and which players will ultimately be there. Longstaff might well have a place as a squad player, just don't see him starting in a top 4 side regularly.

I think the acid test of this is, which of the teams do you think he would fit into if he left Newcastle? A. Arsenal/Man City/ Liverpool or B. Bournemouth/Brentford/Everton

Shite was always hyperbole for Longstaff though, unfortunately you are always going to get that on social media. I was specifically addressing this idea that we can't win without Longstaff. I think a lot of the more sensible commentators have said that the midfield mix didn't look right this season, especially given the lack of pace at CB. I don't think it's that individuals are bad players, we just need to get the balance right so they compliment each other.

Both of those clubs are part of the cartel, so if anyone could afford him they could you would imagine. They could have had him if they wanted for his release clause before it expired earlier this year. I think they want players with everything, and Bruno with his lack of pace is not that, however good he is in all other aspects.

Just reading some other talk of us selling players to free up money to buy in other threads, namely Isak and Bruno, the way FFP and PSR is set up now, I just don't think we are going to be seeing daft fees unless a player is truly exceptional. There's only a handful of clubs worldwide that can afford them, and even then not sure the new rules will encourage the sort of spending we used to see. Isn't that why Osimhen ended up playing in Turkey? I think most clubs will end up following the same model as Mitchell. Just got to look at Liverpool turning their nose up at Guehi once Palace started talking stupid figures.

I'm not sure there will be that much demand for our star players at the prices we would want to release them.

Agree. Tonali played against Chelsea when we won 2-0 alongside Longstaff. Does that mean Bruno is the problem? I think Joelinton and Willock were equally important on the left so selective stats don't really tell the story.

This would have been a classic trip up game for us in recent history. Away from home, a game we might be expected to win against a nominally lesser side. With them doing so well this season there's no excuse for complacency though. I think that works in our favour, there shouldn't be any surprises. We'll need to be switched on from the go.

As long as we keep winning I'm sure everyone is happy. There's going to be games where we won't be able to open sides up and we'll need more inventiveness and skill on the ball. Not sure if Tonali is the answer either, but he's a better footballer given the right set up.

While matchday revenue from bigger grounds does make a difference, the real big money is tv rights and global sales. This is why winning stuff is so important to grow your brand worldwide. It's also the reason PSR has been rushed through without much thought beyond stopping Newcastle threatening those already at the top. That's exactly why building a fantastic title winning team is more important than building a new stadium.

I think we have to follow a similar approach as the last two games and show some patience. As long as we don't leave ourselves open at the back, we can win any game over 90 mins. Keep it 0-0 as long as necessary then hopefully take our chance when it comes.

Barnes makes our squad stronger. If it wasn't for PSR we wouldn't even need to think about resale value. Chelsea can look at putting out three teams the equivalent of ours, yet when we want to rotate quality players we are left having to calculate how much money we are going to lose year on year if we don't sell in time. It's disgraceful, but that is the way the PSR rules have been designed.

Would have loved it even more if we'd done it while the German maniac was still in charge. But I'll still take it.

He'll be a depreciating asset, that should be pointed out. He's 26 so we'd have to sell him in the next year or so to get our money back. That's the hard-nosed view on it. Of course if you aren't bothered about resale value, then 26 is hardly old, he'd still be good for the rest of his contract. But until we start blowing off PSR, it has to be taken into consideration.

I don't see why not. Yesterday's game we conceded possession and let Arsenal have over 60% according to the tv coverage stats. His defensive contribution was never in question, one of the reasons why Rafa rated him highly. I guess when we play worse teams with a low block, that's when his limitations might become more of a hindrance. I also think he came into the team at the right time when the Joelinton and Willock combo on the left was reintroduced. That worked really well against Chelsea in the cup as well when Tonali was playing in place of Bruno.

Studs high, nowhere near the ball. Not sure how there can be much doubt about it.

Don't think I heard or read a single pundit describe us as that before this weekend. `i still haven't tbh, and not surprising considering the way we've played before the last few days.

Ref was dying to give that.

At least we put that right in the cup. Don't mind dropping a point in favour of getting through to the quarters of the Carabao.